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Rugby fans around the globe will be treated to a feast of top-class international rugby during the November window with all 19 nations qualified for Rugby World Cup 2019 in action, as preparations move up a gear on the road to Japan 2019.

10/10/2018 09:00

Final Rugby World Cup 2019 spot to be decided at repechage tournament in Marseille as Canada, Germany, Hong Kong and Kenya battle for qualification

All 19 qualified unions in action during November window as preparations gather pace with less than a year to go

World Rugby funding an exciting international programme for RWC 2019 qualified unions, including preparation and technical support as part of targeted strategy to increase global growth and competitiveness

RWC 2019 hosts Japan to face defending champions New Zealand in Tokyo

Clash of top two nations in World Rugby Rankings as Ireland take on All Blacks in Dublin

A total of 45 international fixtures to be played between 27 October and 1 December

Rugby fans around the globe will be treated to a feast of top-class international rugby during the November window with all 19 nations qualified for Rugby World Cup 2019 in action, as preparations move up a gear on the road to Japan 2019.

The line-up for the ninth Rugby World Cup will be completed when the 20th and final place at Japan 2019 will go to the winners of the repechage tournament at Stade Delort in Marseille, France. The four-team round-robin tournament will see Canada, Germany, Hong Kong and Kenya battle it out over three match-days on 11, 17 and 23 November to attain the ultimate prize of Rugby World Cup qualification.

Reflecting World Rugby’s commitment to ensuring that unions who have come through the qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2019 are in the best-possible form in Japan, World Rugby is funding an exciting programme of international fixtures in line with union objectives.

The World Rugby-funded programme includes a replica of the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2019 between Japan and Russia taking place at Kingsholm in Gloucester, England, on 24 November.

Another duplication of a RWC 2019 fixture sees Uruguay and Fiji come face-to-face, also in Gloucester on 17 November in what is a repeat of their England 2015 encounter that saw Fiji run out 47-15 winners. The next time the two teams face each other will be on 25 September at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Pool D of Rugby World Cup 2019.

Elsewhere, Fiji will travel to face France and Scotland while fellow Pacific Island nations Tonga and Samoa will also contest three fixtures, receiving significant funding from World Rugby to assist their assembly, preparation and travel costs. Other recently qualified Rugby World Cup unions Russia, Namibia and Uruguay all play at least two internationals during the window.

A mouth-watering schedule of international fixtures kicks off on 27 October as New Zealand and Australia meet in the final Bledisloe Cup match of the year at Yokohama Stadium in Japan, which will host the Rugby World Cup 2019 final.

The action continues on 3 November when RWC 2019 hosts Japan entertain defending champions New Zealand at the same venue in Tokyo which will host the opening match of the Rugby World Cup just 323 days later.

Later in the month will see the highly anticipated meeting of the top two nations in the World Rugby Rankings as second-ranked Ireland take on number one side New Zealand in Dublin on 17 November.

World Rugby Chair Bill Beaumont said: “With less than a year to go to Rugby World Cup 2019, we have reached the exciting moment where players, coaches and fans alike can start to countdown the days and feel the sense of anticipation build as rugby’s premier competition draws ever closer.

“The November window presents a fantastic line up of fixtures, including clashes of the titans at the top of the World Rugby Rankings and, importantly, a great depth of matches in which emerging nations will have the opportunity to test themselves against the more established nations in front of large, vibrant crowds.

“We are confident that Japan 2019 will be the most competitive and compelling Rugby World Cup to date, thanks in large part to the level of high-intensity competition during November and specialist technical support that we are providing for the nations who have come through qualification.”

The action is not confined to the field of play as the World Rugby Awards will be celebrated in the spectacular surrounds of Monaco on 25 November when the men’s and women’s players of the year will be crowned.

A full schedule of women’s international fixtures, along with their respective match official appointments, will be confirmed by World Rugby shortly.

With preparations for the first Rugby World Cup in Asia very much on track there has been unprecedented demand for tickets to Japan 2019. The general ticket application period, which runs until 12 November, is the first opportunity for the general public to apply for tickets via www.tickets.rugbyworldcup.com.